Bite People

Today…one of my problem little boys, soon to be my best buddy! (LOL he doesn’t know it yet) decided today that he can’t sit next to a girl, although that is the last place I have for him since every seat has a problem. He approached me and said…”I just can’t..she is evil…and I think she bites”

Isn’t that hilarious?

One of my guys, when he was learning to talk, would call scary people “bite people.” I wasn’t really sure what he was saying, possibly “bad people” …?… but he was insistent about what he meant. Only as he grew older was he able to explain to me that he was afraid bad people would always bite. The strange thing about it, I can’t remember a time he was ever bitten. I was extremely careful about the things he saw — Sesame Street, Barney, Thomas the Tank Engine — not much biting happening there. But he just knew people could be scary and they might bite.

Both of these little guys have understood the very nature of man.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ~Galatians 5:13-16

As Christians we have this problem. We speak without knowledge too often. We hurt one another with our words, hoping to “make a point.” I’ve recently done this to someone near and dear to my heart. It’s ugly and it’s not from Him.

Grace, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, self-control…these are the things we’ve been called to do in His name. To love one another.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ~James 1:19

But the fruit of the Spiritis love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:23

If you’ve “bitten” someone recently…make it right…ask for forgiveness…get things settled. You’ll feel much better. It’s part of the ministry of reconciliation.

🙂 your welcome…I also thought about how true to life this little mans thoughts were…I have been biten many times, not just by animals..but people that I least expected..i think its called naive..and sometime I don’t think we have a choice in getting bitten..its a learning experience for sure…and I biting is bad no matter who is doing it..myself included. Goodpost..glad i could help a little…LOL or not at all

I read your post yesterday, but things didn’t click until this morning. I need to remember how careless words can cut others to shreads, even when my intention is not to hurt. It’s a hard lesson but so important. So thanks, Darla, for helping me “get” it. 😉

It is a tremendous challenge, requiring much prayer at times, to be ‘lovingingly’ confrontational when it is necessary to confront.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16)

We hesitate to be confrontive (reprove and correct) ,when necessary ,because in our curent evangelical ‘culture’ neither has an affirming/positive connotation.

So we don’t reprove and confront even when it might be necessary, in the corporate setting (expository preaching has all but vanished, ant it always conftonts) or at the individual level.

At the personal level, one approach is to try and ‘rightly’ apply Scripture and leave out personal pronouns and let the written word speak. Even then, when the word might bite me, there is a tendency to feel ‘bitten’ by the messenger.

I intended nothing personal with that, just 5:00 A.M. thoughts. I don’t even know if they go to the point of this blog.

This was really good Michelle. “As Christians we have this problem. We speak without knowledge too often. We hurt one another with our words, hoping to “make a point.” ” Too, too, true. That hit home. Thanks.

Hey, Dan. It is so hard for me to be lovingly confrontive. I hope I’ve softened over the years, but those who live with me know I still have a LONG way to go.

I love a clear word taught from the pulpit. If it is the pure word, it will do the work of confronting with the Spirit working alongside. To find that place has been a challenge for us, but Pete Briscoe (my pastor) does a good job.

I will give the scripture as my source if ever there is a need to confront because I’m learning not to trust my own assumptions. I’m more arrogant than I like to admit. 😕

Yeah, Carl, approaching someone we’ve hurt without making excuses for our behavior…that’s hard for me. I want to explain, please let me explain…when I really need to be quiet and accept my place of humility. My heart breaks when I’ve been too abrupt as well…I guess that’s good though. Keeps us on our knees, right?

Thank you, Annie. I needed to hear it myself. Hitting home is painful. Oh, well…He’s doing a work that at times can feel like scourging. (Heb. 12)

I AM the True Light

John’s Gospel

A Peaceful Life

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things
I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship
As the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make
All things right if
I surrender to His will;
So that I may be
Reasonably happy in this life and
Supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.